The Three Rivers Film Festival will welcome "Strange Girls" -- which is a locally made thriller, not a commentary on Pittsburgh women -- as part of its opening-night triple play.

"Strange Girls," about a pill-popping psychiatrist dealing with twentysomething twins, will show at Pittsburgh Filmmakers' Melwood Screening Room, while the Harris Theater will offer a restored print of Nicolas Roeg's 1971 "Walkabout," about a brother and sister stranded in the Australian Outback.

The Regent Square Theater will play "Grace Is Gone," a favorite at the Sundance Film Festival starring John Cusack as the manager of a Minnesota home store whose wife is killed in Iraq. He takes their daughters, ages 12 and 8, on a trip while trying to summon the courage to tell them their mother is gone.

In addition to screening the movie (featuring original music by Clint Eastwood), Filmmakers plans to invite "Grace" director-writer James C. Strouse to town.

The festival, now in its 26th year and being presented by Filmmakers and Dollar Bank, will run from Nov. 2-15 at the three venues.

Rona Mark wrote and directed "Strange Girls," a tale of horror, manipulation and obsession, which was shot in Pittsburgh, Connellsville and New Kensington. Adrienne Wehr plays the therapist to the twins who seem unable to live together or apart.

New Invisible Joy, a Pittsburgh band with a Brit-pop sound, will perform at the opening-night party at Filmmakers' headquarters at 477 Melwood Ave. at 9 p.m. Nov. 2. It's free with a ticket stub from an opening-night movie (or purchase of a six-pack pass) or $5 at the door.

While a full schedule will be released later this month, organizers are bringing the popular Alloy Orchestra back to town Nov. 4 with the 1927 gangster film "Underworld" at the Regent Square Theater.

The three-man band from Boston, which creates and performs live music to silent films, has been here with such classics as "Phantom of the Opera" and "Nosferatu." Tickets, $12.

On Nov. 10, musician William Barton will give a performance on the didgeridoo (the instrument that had a history before it became linked to the TV show "Survivor") after the documentary about him, "Kalkadoon Man," screens at the Harris. Co-sponsored by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, it's part of the Australia Festival. Tickets, $10.

Legendary avant-garde filmmaker Kenneth Anger will appear with a program of his work past and present on the festival's closing night, Nov. 15, at the Regent Square Theater. Tickets for that program, along with a reception next door at Concept Art Gallery, are $12.

The festival also will present Mark McElhatten, curator of the New York Film Festival's "Views From the Avant-Garde" program, with a look at contemporary experimental film and video and work by the late artist Mark Lapore.

Jacob Ciocci, artist in residence at Filmmakers, will offer a program of historical and contemporary video art. Local filmmaker and curator Adam Abrams will present an evening of short experimental work.

Tickets for special events go on sale Oct. 19 through www.ticketweb.com or Filmmakers' Melwood offices during business hours or at the box offices of the Melwood Screening Room, Harris and Regent Square theaters during hours of operation.

Six-pack passes are $40 and provide six admissions and a T-shirt (design by Actual Size Creative). You can buy them now at Crazy Mocha locations or the Box Office at Theater Square, 665 Penn Ave., Downtown.

Tickets for single films are $8 and can be purchased at the box office 30 minutes in advance. The complete schedule will be announced in mid-October.

Calling more extras

"Adventureland" is still looking for "volunteer extras" (food and T-shirt, no money) for the Greg Mottola movie being shot at Kennywood and elsewhere in town. If interested, show up at the front gates of Kennywood tomorrow from 1 to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. for casting calls (not actual shooting).

You must be 18 or older and realize that shooting days could stretch from four to 12-plus hours. Bring a recent photograph or dress in 1980s clothing. If cast, you will have to provide your own outfit. If chosen, you will be contacted later.

You can also call 412-667-2092 or e-mail AdventurelandVolunteerExtras@gmail.com or go to AdventurelandVolunteerExtras.blogspot.com for other information.